Wall or crib structure



' g- 1931- J. H. FERGUS-ON, JR 1,818,056

WALL 0R CRIB STRUCTURE Filed May 5, 1 928 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,1. fl J5 a I O/c I v I \Q/ Q -3 J9 L 10 J5 INVENTOR Aug. 11, 1931.

J. H. FERGUSON, JR

WALL OR CRIB STRUCTURE Filed May 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 PATENT OFFECE JAMES H. FERGUSON, JR., F WILKINSIBURG, PENNSYLVANIA WALL OR CRIB STRUCTURE AppIication filed May 5,

My invention relates to wall or crib structures and more particularly to those similar to the type employed as retaining walls for embankments.

One object of my invention is to provide a cribbing structure of such form that the members composing the same can be readily assembled to follow either straight or curved lines without materially affecting the strength of interlocking engagement between the various parts of the structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the header members of cribbing structures may be conveniently interlocked independently of the stretcher members.

A further object of my invention is to provide stretcher members and filler bars of such form that they have a more effec- 30 tive and simplified interlocking relation than various types of structures heretofore employed.

Still another object of my invention is to simplify and improve generally the form and effectiveness of cribbing structures.

Another object of my invention is to cast the fewest number of standard shapes to meet all conditions.

One form which my invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a sectional plan view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; Fig. a is a view taken on the line -VIV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan View similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts disposed in a curve; Fig. 6 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the header bars, and Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 7

The structure is composed primarily of stretchers ,10, filler bars 11 and header bars 12. These members may all be formed of concrete or other suitable material. The headers 12 are preferably of the form shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, being enlarged at their ends and having keystone-like pro- Serial No. 275,323.

jections or lugs 13 formed integrally therewith. The sides of the lugs 13 are curved, as indicated at 13 in Figs. 6 and 7, and the abutting ends of the stretcher bars 10 are complementa-lly formed, the radius of curvature of the ends of the bars 10, however, being slightly less than the radius of the curvature of the sides of the lugs 13, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, so that the cribbing structure can be caused to more accurately follow curved embankments, and Without seriously affecting the interlocking connec tion between the ends of the headers 12 and the stretchers 10. The stretcher bars 10 are vertically supported at their ends on the horizontal surfaces 12 of the header bars 12, and are therefore supported independently of one another, and independently of the filler bars so that each stretcher bar can be readily removed or replaced without disturbing either the other stretcher bars or the header bars.

The difference in curvature referred to is slight, so that the opposing curved surfaces of the stretchers and the headers will always be close together throughout substantially the1r entire area, even though the stretchers be disposed in curves, since the radius of curvature of the cribbing structure will always be very large and there will be but so slight angular deflections of the stretchers required.-

The stretchers at the inner side of a curved crib structure may be either somewhat shorter than the stretchers at the outer or longer side of the structure, or may be moved inward slightly to permit the ends of adjacent stretchers to be brought closer together, or the stretchers at the outer face of the crib may be moved outward slightly, to spread them farther apart but still be in abutting engagement with the lugs 13. The shifting of the stretchers radially of the curve need be but slight, and they may all be of the same length and still engage the lugs 13 to form a rigid structure, notwithstanding the disposition thereof on a curve.

It will be seen that the headers serve to securely hold the stretchers in position, and

tionbetween the stretchers.

that the stretchers and headers may be assembled simply by placing them in superposed position, the horizontal rows of stretchers being alternately disposed with res ect to the horizontal rows of headers, {LIIC that not only are the ends of the headers flush with the face of the stretchers, but the lugs 13 of the various superposed head ers meet to form a solid face as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, also locking the structure vertically.

In molding the headers 12, tubular inserts 15 are imbedded therein which serve not only as reinforcements, but serve as a means whereby the ends of the headers may be locked together, such interlocking being effected by extending rods 16 through the tubes 15 of a plurality of superposed headers. This feature is particularly useful where stretcher members are employed only at one end of a series of headers, since a locking rod 16 may be placed in the tubes 15 at the other ends of said. headers, each rod serving to maintain a series of superposed headers in proper vertical alinement.

Pins 17 also are imbedded in the ends of the headers and reinforcing rods or wires 18 are disposed in the body of each header and extend around the pins 17, to thus not only reinforce the header as a whole, but to reinforce the lugs 13, to prevent their being broken from the body portion of the header 12.

In those cases wherein it is desired to fill the space between vertically adjacent stretchers 10, on the face of a wall or crib structure, I provide filler bars 11, each of which has pairs of projections 19 that together produce a dovetail-like cross sectional form of the filler bar at certain points, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and t. These rojections 19 fit within complementally- .ormed recesses in the stretcher bars 10, so that the filler bars are rigidly locked in posi- I claim as my invention 1. Cribbing structure composed of a plurality of header bars, each of which is pro vided with a lug of generally keystone shape upon its outer end, and stretcher bars having their ends formed complementally to said lugs and having inter-locking engagement therewith, the inter-engaging surfaces of said lugs and bars being curved, *ith the curvature of the ends of the bars of shorter radius than the curvatures of the lugs.

2. cribbing structure composed of header bars each of which has a lug disposed upon its upper and lower sides respectively, and stretcher bars abutting against the upper and lower sides respectively of said header bars and having the vertical surfaces of their extremities in interlocking engagement with vertical sides of said lugs, the said lugs being of approximately keystone shape when viewed in plan, and in superposed relation.

3. Cribbing structure composed of header bars each of which has a lug disposed upon one horizontal face in position to engage a vertically adjacent header bar, and stretcher bars engaging the horizontal surfaces of the header bars adjacent to the said lugs, the vertical surfaces of the extremities of the said stretcher bars having interlocking engagement with vertical sides of the lugs and the said surfaces and sides being complementally curved.

4. Cribbing structure composed of header bars, each of which has a lug disposed upon one horizontal face in position to engage a vertically-adjacent header bar, the said lugs being of less width than the body portions of said bars to provide horizontal supporting surfaces adjacent to said lugs, andv stretcher bars engaging the said horizontal surfaces, the vertical faces at the extremities of said stretcher bars having interlocking engagement with the vertical sides of the said lugs.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES II. FnnGUsoN, J12, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES H. FEtGUSON, JR. 

